At Donner Trail Elementary, students now have a comfortable way to learn outdoors, even in the snow!
Thanks to an Excellence in Education grant, the school purchased 65 Crazy Creek chairs, durable and portable seats designed to handle cold, wet environments. The chairs will support the school’s expanding outdoor education program, which brings hands-on learning into the forest, along the river, and out into the snow-covered landscape.
Learning in All Seasons
Each month, Donner Trail students participate in Tracker Days, schoolwide outdoor learning experiences designed by the STEAM teacher and supported by staff and local volunteers. These days might include field journaling by the river, observing animal tracks in the snow, or studying science and math in the forest.
But as teachers and students quickly learned during the first year of the program, finding a dry, comfortable place to sit was a challenge. Crazy Creek chairs were the answer. They are lightweight, foldable, easy to store, and sturdy enough to withstand Truckee’s outdoor environment.
Students can now settle in comfortably to write in their field books, work on hands-on activities, or enjoy a shared reading session outside.
School-wide Impact
The chairs will be used weekly across classrooms, supporting everything from outdoor math and reading lessons to Reading Buddies Time. The Donner Trail team shared in their grant application that the chairs will make outdoor learning more comfortable and accessible year-round, allowing students to stay focused and engaged while exploring their unique mountain environment.
Funded with $2,978, this grant provides a one-time purchase for the school, with future replacements expected to be supported by the school’s PTO.
